Probation and Parole

What is this thing called "parole" anyway? Well, it's the release of a person from a correctional facility before they have completed their full sentence. Parolees are placed under supervision, and conditions are imposed on their behavior. Parole is usually granted by a parole board specially appointed (or elected) for the purpose of determining who would most benefit, in terms of rehabilitation, by an early release. Other times, the prison administration (correctional counselors, really) releases …

…experience working in the system (two or three years of police or correctional officer work should suffice). Unlike probation officers, who will mainly be receiving visitors in their office behind a desk, parole officers have to go out into the community and sometimes make arrests. For that reason, it's good to have good relations with law enforcement officers, to back you up at least. Finally, I'll leave you with some more links on this subject: